FAYETTEVILLE — Tennessee scored three runs in the seventh inning and held on to beat No. 20 Arkansas 5-4 Friday at Baum Stadium.
Christin Stewart had an RBI single and later scored the go-ahead run on a wild pitch by Razorbacks reliever James Teague. Arkansas had chances to tie the game in the eighth and ninth innings, but stranded three runners over the final two innings.
Game Sketch
Line Score: Tennessee 5-10-0; Arkansas 4-8-1
Records: Tennessee 20-24, 8-7 SEC; Arkansas 29-19, 14-11 SEC
WP: Andy Cox (2-3)
LP: James Teague (3-3)
Save: Andrew Lee (8)
Turning Point: Tennessee scored three runs off Arkansas reliever James Teague in the seventh inning to take a 5-4 lead.
Notable: Andrew Benintendi hit his NCAA-leading 16th home run for the Razorbacks.
The Razorbacks had a three-game win streak snapped. Tennessee remained in contention for a berth in the SEC Tournament in two weeks.
Arkansas scored a run in the first inning on Tyler Spoon's RBI single. After Nick Senzel tied the game with a solo home run for Tennessee in the top of the third inning, the Razorbacks regained the lead on a solo home run by Andrew Benintendi in the bottom of the third.
The home run was Benintendi's 16th this season, which is the most nationally. The sophomore finished the game a triple shy of the cycle.
Tennessee tied the game when Chris Hall was hit by a Trey Killian pitch with the bases loaded in the fourth inning. The Razorbacks took a 4-2 lead on Spoon's two-run home run in the bottom of the sixth inning.
Andy Cox pitched seven innings to earn the win for the Volunteers. Cox scattered seven hits and struck out six batters. Andrew Lee picked up the save.
Killian pitched six innings for the Razorbacks. He allowed one earned run on six hits and struck out three batters. Zach Jackson had four strikeouts in 2 2/3 innings out of the bullpen. Teague took the loss after retiring only one batter.
The teams are scheduled to play again Saturday at 6:05 p.m.